Vicki Geary was washing dishes one Saturday morning when she suddenly started feeling strange. She tried to explain to her husband the symptoms she was experiencing.

“It was like a bowling ball pressing against my stomach,” said Geary, who was 55 at the time. “And my fingertips were tingling.”

Unbeknownst to Geary, she was having a heart attack.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 60 million women in the United States currently live with heart disease. More women die from heart disease than from cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and accidents combined.

Many women do not know the facts about heart disease and do not recognize the signs and symptoms of heart disease, which can present differently than men.

Geary started experiencing shoulder pain and called Kaiser Permanente’s reservations and advice line. When she described her symptoms, her nurse told her to call 911. Paramedics gave Geary nitroglycerin to ease her pain. Her ambulance took her to her nearest hospital, and she was then transferred to Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara. After undergoing her triple bypass surgery, Geary is now recovering and she is healthy.

“Kaiser Permanente treated Vicki’s situation seriously and quickly,” said Seema Prusnani, MD, MPH, a cardiologist and director of women’s heart health at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara. “Kaiser Permanente is a great system that not only helps prevent cardiovascular care, but also helps manage acute heart conditions, like the heart attack that Vicki experienced.”

Prusnani said research shows that women with cardiovascular disease often delay diagnosis, testing and treatment.

Kaiser Permanente takes a comprehensive approach to supporting women’s cardiovascular health, combining nation-leading prevention, cutting-edge treatments, and important research.

To prevent heart disease, Prusnani said women should consult their doctors and follow these recommended guidelines:

• Eat a plant-based diet that includes whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.Avoid red meat and processed foods
• Stay active: 30 minutes of walking each day is a great place to start
• Quit smoking if you smoke
• Get enough sleep by aiming for 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night
• Manage your weight, especially around your abdomen
• Reduce stress.Try meditation or breathing exercises
• Track your blood pressure and cholesterol and ensure you’re compliant with your medications

For more information about heart care at Kaiser Permanente, visit: https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/northern-california/health-wellness/heart-health

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